A Balance of forces
Subtitle: executive summary
By: Kenneth J. Matulia
Contributors: National Institute of Justice (U.S.); United States. Dept. of Justice; International Association of Chiefs of Police
Publisher: U.S. Dept. of Justice, National Institute of Justice
Published: 1982
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 54
Subjects: Police discretion -- United States; Justifiable homicide -- United States; Police murders -- United States
Description: This study examines the issue of police use of deadly force. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) obtained 10 years of FBI data for 57 cities on police 'justifiable homicide' (as defined by the FBI Uniform Crime Reports), conducted a 54-city survey of police departments, and analyzed written policies to identify factors involved in deadly force incidents. The study found that departments with sufficient numbers of street supervisors providing tactical guidance and manpower support have a lower incidence of use of deadly force, as do departments having management policy directives regarding stakeout units. Other contributing factors to lower deadly force rates appear to be use of smaller caliber weapons and review of deadly force incidents by police chiefs. Model policy guidelines to assist police executives in exerting maximum control over use of deadly force in their units were developed after review of model standards on deadly force issued by the FBI, American Law Institute, President's Commission, IACP, Institute of Government Affairs, and American Bar Association.
Notes: "Project was supported by grant number 79-NI-AX-0131, awarded to the International Association of Chiefs of Police by the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice"--T.p. verso

"September 1982."

Includes bibliographical references